Vikings: A Dark History of the Norse People

A Dark History Series

by Martin J. Dougherty

Beginning in 789AD, the Vikings raided monasteries, sacked cities and invaded western Europe. They looted and enslaved their enemies. But that is only part of their story. In long boats they discovered Iceland and America (both by accident) and also sailed up the Seine to Paris (which they sacked). They settled from Newfoundland to Russia, founded Dublin and fought battles as far afield as the Caspian Sea.

A thousand years after their demise, traces of the Vikings remain all the way from North America to Istanbul. They traded walruses with Inuits, brought Russian furs to Western Europe and took European slaves to Constantinople. Their graves contain Arab silver, Byzantine silks and Frankish weapons.

In this accessible book, the whole narrative of the Viking story is examined from the eighth to the 11th century. Arranged thematically, Vikings: A History of the Norse People, examines the Norsemen from exploration to religion to trade to settlement to weaponry to kingdoms to their demise and legacy. But today questions remain: what prompted the first Viking raids? What stopped their expansion? And how much of the tales of murder, rape and pillage is myth?

Illustrated with more than 200 colour and black-and-white photographs, maps and artworks, Vikings: A History of the Norse People is an expertly written account of a people who have long captured the popular imagination.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Reference, European History

224 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 2013

About the author

Hailing from northeast England, Martin J Dougherty is a professional writer specialising in military history. He has been at times a games designer, an engineer, a self-protection instructor, a teacher and a defence analyst. Martin has published a range of books covering topics as diverse as self-protection, medieval warfare and space flight, and has addressed international conferences on anti-shipping missiles and homeland security issues.

Martin's interests include martial arts and fencing. He has coached Fencing, Ju-Jitsu, Self-Defence and Kickboxing for many years at the University of Sunderland, and has competed to national level as a fencer. As a martial artist he holds black belts in Combat Ju-Jitsu, Nihon Tai-Jitsu and Self-Defence. Martin is a Senior Assessor with the Self-Defence Federation and an IL1 instructor/assessor with the Britsh Federation for Historical Swordplay, specialising in the Military Sabre and the Smallsword.

Reviews

[SheLove2Read · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hubby picked this one up for me for my birthday this year, knowing my absolute love of the TV show "Vikings". This was good. It's a coffee table book, 11x14, with lots of pictures and etchings and artist renderings of what they believe Vikings, settlements, and clothing looked like.


Some of the topics I found fascinating were:

Their origins - the people we know as 'the Vikings" first came into written history around 793 AD with the raid at Lindisfarne Island

Word Fame - their culture valued word-fame above all else. If a man's deeds were remembered and talked about he could achieve immortality.

Viking Law and social order - they had a very complex society, with rules governing everything from dispute resolution to the "laws" of raiding.

They were the Roman Empire of their geographical area, venturing far and wide, from Newfoundland to the shores of northern Africa. Truly some adventurous souls!

When men meet foes in fight, better is stout heart than sharp sword.

[Shane Findlay · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading the author challenging the ‘facts’ of an obscured, chaotic Age. Well done, Mr.D!

[Ann Hein · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this overview of the Viking Era. No evidence of horned helmets or dragon ships, but the Vikings had their own unique life style...raiding, pillaging, but also settling in other parts of the world. Interesting how at their height they sailed down the rivers of Europe to Constantinople. Some stayed as part of the palace guard. My ancestors came from the British Isles, and since the Vikings spent quite a bit of time there fighting, farming, being King, I may have Viking blood. Actually, an ancestor did come over with William the Conqueror, (formerly known as William the Bastard.) William was a descendant of Viking Rollo.

[Katie Landry · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I purchased this book I was excited about it, but in all honesty I wasn’t sure I would finish it. I’m happy to report that not only did I finish it, I loved it! I got into Vikings after watching The Last Kingdom & I wanted to learn more about their culture/history. I learned so much and would get so excited when I read about people like Alfred the Great & Æthelstan who are featured in TLK.

[Brock Nicholson · Rating 1 out of 5]

So badly written I quit after the first fifty pages or so. Awkward phrasing and grammatical errors around. I find it hard to take scholarly claims seriously when the writing is on par with an unedited blog post.

[Zachary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pop culture seems to be going through a bit of a Viking craze right now so it seemed like as good of a time as any to read this book I picked up at the bargain section of B&N like two years ago.

This was a fun read, I learned (or re-learned) a lot about the Vikings.

My only critique is that most of the book is ordered thematically rather than chronologically, which makes the author skip back and forth a lot in the Viking timeline, so sometimes when the author was referring to certain events I had to flip back to figure out which of the 129 King Haralds the Vikings had that the author was referring to.

[Jim Swike · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought I knew about the Vikings. This book taught me a lot about the Good and the bad about the Vikings. Great read, resource for research, and / or term paper. Enjoy!

[James · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very interesting general introduction, with generally up-to-date information on items like the navigational sunstone, and admirable restraint when dealing with areas of uncertainty (like the Viking influence in Russia). Among the things I learned:

- The business end of a sword is the "long edge" or "true edge"
- There's a weapon called the sax, not quite a sword but more than a knife
- The range of a Viking bow was 656 feet!
- Lanavaettir - land-spirits!
- Two different kinds of duels to solve legal issues: the einvigi (bring whatever weapon you can) and the holmgang (more rules)
- Details of the Vikings who fought for Byzantium -- the Varangian Guard

In fact, Dougherty is at his best in describing fighting styles and weapons. He also has some nice turns of phrase, like "The popular image of wanton destruction and carnage perpetrated by mobs of hairy, filthy men is not in all ways unwarranted."

But the last couple of chapters, detailing Viking wars and settlements, get a bit confusing, and details and told and retold. There are also a lot of Haralds and Eriks to keep track of...which sounds rather thick-headed of me, I suppose.

There are hundreds of photos and illustrations, but few if any are identified.

And there are some gaps and errors regarding mythology, which Dougherty doesn't seem especially interested in. Like some others, Dougherty talks of the land of the dark elves, although I’m not sure those exist outside of Marvel Comics, and may just be another word for dwarfs. (I could be wrong!) A 19th century picture described as a “Viking feast” is properly criticized for its Classical look, but the painting isn’t a Viking feast; it’s a well-known illustration of the Lokisenna, where Loki interrupts a feast to insult the Aesir until driven away by Thor. Speaking of Thor, one painting is cited as Thor meeting the frost giant Ymer...Uh, doubtful. Ymir (the usual spelling) was the first living thing and was killed by Odin and his brothers before Thor was born. Also, the cause and outcome of the Aesir-Vanir war is rather muddled; the gold-hungry Vanir witch Gullveig is nowhere mentioned. As that was a key part of my "Aesir Kids," I naturally feel slighted! :)

Still, recommended as a general introduction.

[Liam || Books 'n Beards · Rating 3 out of 5]

For a pretty basic overview of the Viking Age, not bad. The writing is pretty good other than the author's propensity to waffle on quite a bit on unimportant details, and a sort of fluctuating tone in general. Couple of things in there that are flat out wrong, but nothing too bad.

[James Kemp · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Dark History: Vikings is a really good introduction for grown ups interested in Vikings. It's fairly modern and has lots of illustrations to bring the text to life. Way more informative than the stuff your kids might read, but also easily accessible compared to some of the more academic histories.

What I enjoyed about it was that there was a mix of social and cultural history along with the usual timelines. It also gave me a sense of 'Viking' being a product of lazy thinking in the same way that 'Celts' are. The reality was that there were lots of people over a vast geographic area and a couple of centuries. There's no central drive or common ethos for the entire group. Also small groups didn't just behave in a stereotypical Viking way all the time.

This myth busting was easy to read, supported with some pretty recent archaeology and histories, and it was well illustrated with examples. There were also pictures, maps, and diagrams to summarise or typify what the text was explaining. Some of these were of the older stereotypes, but they were labelled as such, and the inaccuracies pointed out. So you wouldn't come away with a false impression.

I was reading the book hoping to mine it for useful world building ideas for my fantasy stories set in a post Viking age. It was really useful for that. Not only because of the social and cultural bits that showed some of the core ethos that lead to raiding and trading. A Dark History: Vikings showed how the peoples thought of as Vikings evolved into a number of different nations in different parts of the world. There were the Rus, in Eastern Europe/Western Asia. Further south there was the Varangian Guard serving the Byzantine empire. In France the Normans, in England the Danes became the nobles in what we consider Anglo Saxon England. There were also Viking States in Ireland, Iceland, Greenland and the Scandinavian countries.

In fact I was left with the distinct impression that the Vikings just became British, Scandanavians and French. You could almost trace the expansion out of Northern Europe across the sea to the British Empire, and then the US hegemony. Although that's my post hoc analysis rather than what the book suggests.

What the book does suggest is that the people of the 9th to 11th centuries were more linked by the sea than across the land. The Viking penetrations follow the coast and navigable rivers. Their boats were small enough to go quite far up the rivers, and to portage round obstacles, or onto other rivers.

The nature of contact changed both contextually and over time. Initially there are individual boats either raiding weaker places, or trading with better defended locations. As raiding becomes more lucrative flotillas form. Targets harden, and the flotillas look for easy pickings. Once the flotillas become fleets then the targets start to buy them off. This organisation leads to more modern states with effective taxation to pay the Danegeld.

Overall this is a great starting point if you don't know a lot about Vikings. It busts some myths, gives a narrative of the period and the extent to which Vikings travelled and also some social and cultural background that explains why they traveled. It also explains why they stopped being Vikings.

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this book. It has a lot of easy to understand information--aided with lovely photos, illustrations, and maps--that will be delightful for people like me with a basic level of knowledge of Vikings, but probably wouldn't impress people who have studied Vikings extensively.

Even then, I could think of a few things that the book would benefit from. Number one being a timeline, since information is organized thematically instead of in chronological order, which means that the chapter on Viking Kingdoms hopped around based on region. The thematic organization also meant that some information was repeated. The definition of Danesgeld is repeated in multiple chapters, but sometimes the same information is said twice in the same chapter, like the relation between Heimdell and Loki in the Norse Religion chapter. Also, the book is interspersed with what I assume are traditional Viking/Norse sayings, but one is used twice.

There are also a few area that seem sparse. Sweden is neglected compared to Denmark and especially Norway. In spite of long chapters on social order and society, women are rarely mentioned. This book also claims that women were not allowed to have weapons or fight, and based on some quick research, there was some evidence of this in existence before 2013 when this book was written.

Also, is it normal for nonfiction books to not list sources? I've seen a lot that do it, but I also don't read a lot of them.

[Jeff Lanter · Rating 3 out of 5]

Vikings are something that have never grabbed my attention but for some reason this book caught my eye at Half-Price Books recently. I figured they were an era of history I might as well learn a bit about and this book does a fairly decent job of educating you. It is definitely best for some like myself who did not know a lot about Vikings beforehand as the book is relatively short and gives a general overview of different aspects of their lives and culture. For example, there is a section on the exploration the Vikings did and another on their weapons and armor. Its pretty standard stuff and I found myself most interested in their actual history which also gets its own section. The writing is good and engaging though I never quite got as interested in Vikings as I had hoped. I think maybe it is just a period in history that isn't likely to ever be something I'm really interested in and no fault of this book's however.

[Delson Roche · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book after watching the Viking TV series , the series did help me visualise and make the reading easy, but the book help me realise the story telling liberty the TV series took. Very fascinating stories and a gripping book.

[Scott Breslove · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting well written Viking history that is much more concise and readable than the last one I read. Although I don’t really know what makes this a “dark” history…seemed just like a regular history, but enjoyable nonetheless.

[Michal · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's an OK book that does seem to go around in circles a bit for some reason, but it does cover the basics.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a gift, this was my very attractive informational reading choice - the best overall book on the Vikings that I've found. Yet, "what we know about the Vikings comes from many sources, none of them completely reliable." It's remarkable "dark" [so-called as the subtitle] European history from ca. 790 to 1066. the author seems true when writing "History has forgotten or distorted much of what the Vikings were and did." I surmise that the forces which prompted the raiding, migration, settlements and integration will in time be interpreted to show a more positive story of these Norse families and the so-called Viking age.

The "Vikings" (a word meaning seagoing traders) became raiders in the 6th and 7th centuries. I wish Martin Dougherty had gone into more depth and detail, were it possible, more of the real life of these people. He is general or vague, even when he seems to have specific information derived from burial sites. Seems a scholar should do more with what has been turned up by excavations and study. In detailing swords, he refers to "the tang is a critically important part of a sword blad" but never explains where and what is the "tang." The book often seems general, vague, bland.

This evidently is not intended as an extensive definitive archaeological, anthropological, historical book. Rather it's a layman's picture of a fascinating culture which was prominent in Europe during of the 8th through the 11th centuries. It's not disparaging it to say it is an appealing "coffee table" publication, however the illustrations (a major asset in the book) are usually fictious, mythical, or many photographs taken of re-enactments - with almost none from scientific scholarly museum relics.

I've had an interest in the Vikings partly from my visit to Iceland, by their discovery of Greenland and Canada, my wife's ancestral McLeod line, and of course the popular image of raiding sea-faring conquering hordes of men. The publisher in 2013 promotes it as:- 'Vikings' examines Norse life from religion to raiding, from exploration to settlement, to their legacy. Illustrated colorfully and handsomely with more than 150 photographs and artworks, 'Vikings' is an exciting history of a people who have long held a place in popular imagination.

[Jacob · Rating 3 out of 5]

Vikings: A History of the Norse People is strong history of this fascinating people group written at the layperson's level. It is not overly long, and yet is filled with reasonably detailed information. One of the strengths of the book is that it engages people with no former background in the history of the Viking peoples without sacrificing content. I appreciated the explanation of the influence Viking society had at large across the world, impacting the development of Medieval Europe, West Asia, and even the Mediterranean basin, whereas many see the Vikings as little more than crude warriors plaguing the North Sea. The book is frank and honest, both dispelling ahistorical myths (such as horned helmets)and admitting the limits of our knowledge in clouded areas, it is clear when we must make speculations or conjectures. The illustrations include old artwork depicting relevant scenes, relics and examples from the time period, and helpful maps with information on travel, battle, and borders.

To that end, the book succeeds in what it sets out to do; it presents generally solid information in an accessible form to the reader. It is both informative and enjoyable, and the information is ordered in a logical manner. This is a solid book, I enjoyed it, and I would recommend it to anyone interested in the Norse peoples or the time period.

[Jim Dowdell]

I read this from my collection of cheap books from Chapters because I was binge watching the history channel series "Vikings". The series authors must have used this very book as major source material. The book is a high school textbook style of popularizing the Viking world. Informative and easy reading but PC and occasionally self contradictory. The chapter on weapons and armour was especially interesting. I also discovered that the Vikings played a much larger role in the evolution of our government and civilization than I had previously believed.

[Michael Brown · Rating 2 out of 5]

Another general overlook at the region and the people who became the Vikings. Always some redundant info and some new interpretation of old data. Nice book with good maps, pictures and info. Started reading 3 months ago and read a chapter or two at a time. Was the filler between other books. Since I wargame the Viking era a lot these types of books always help with bits of info for the games.

[Margret · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an excellent, interesting, and informative read about the Vikings. It is filled with photos, diagrams, maps, and illustrations. It took me a few weeks to finished it, but it was interested. I learned a lot about the Vikings. The way they live, there artifacts, the duels, etc. Very interesting if you like history.

[h · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyable book about the basics of Viking history and life during that era. I suspect I would have enjoyed the print edition better, because the Kindle format leaves a lot to be desired, but the text was informative and interesting.

[Amcam · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very informative book, with lots of pictures, diagrams, maps, etc. It was just very dry reading that was difficult to muddle my way through. I really thought it'd be better since I am interested in Vikings and what their lives were, but alas, it was not to be.

[Keith Haan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent, interesting read about the Vikings. It is filled with photos and illustrations. There is just enough detail to make it interesting without the tedious listing of facts that sometimes fills histories.

[Mike Kriesel · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found this book to be elementary with no added value, that is for a history buffs who have read a book or two on the history of the Norsemen. This book is a good starter on basic history of "Vikings", it can prepare a reader for some of the more in-depth historical books that are available.

[Omar Bravo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Muy buen libro, con información muy completa y sintetizada, además de que las ilustraciones vuelven muy amena su lectura y los mapas ayudan a entender mejor la ubicación de las batallas o los recorridos de sus viajes.

[Courtney · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good, but not excessively detailed look at the Viking culture.

[Fiona · Rating 3 out of 5]

Easily read introduction to all things Viking. Some nice illustrations too.

[Indah Threez Lestari · Rating 4 out of 5]

469 - 2015

[Stephen Fleet · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good, informative and easy too read.

[Nonna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty good writing. But some part, I just want to more depth story, specially about The Viking Kingdoms.